You might be classified part-time for tax reasons, but as a pastor you will work in excess of 40 hours every week. Rev. Lisa Hammonds, pastor of St. Peter AME Church in downtown Clarksville is proof of that. And that is not her only job.

On Nov. 1 Hammonds will complete her year as pastor of St. Peter AME. She has been in ministry for 20 years and has served as pastor at five churches for 15 years. She had a successful career in banking, but she knew it was time to answer a higher calling.

“Living in Nashville and commuting to Clarksville makes it challenging to be part of the Clarksville community,” she said. “My goal for this next year is to become part of the community here and hopefully raise the profile of this wonderful church.”

St. Peter AME was started in 1866, although it can trace its roots to 1787. It is the only African American church in the downtown area and physically it is one of the largest churches in town.

“We want to be part of the downtown area and be an active participant in events and activities,” Hammonds said. “We have 22 children and youth here and it’s our responsibility to raise them right, keep them in the faith and church, and teach them to serve God and others.”

The present membership of the congregation is 133 with 106 active members. Although it is an AME church – African Methodist Episcopal – Hammonds said everybody is welcome here.

“One of the most attractive aspects of St. Peter’s is that the membership is intergenerational. That helps with growth. And the men in the congregation are on fire for Christian education and ensuring there are multiple opportunities for learning.”

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On Nov. 1 the Rev. Lisa Hammonds will complete her year as pastor of St. Peter AME. She has been in ministry for 20 years and has served as pastor at five churches for 15 years.(Photo: Tim Parrish/For The Leaf-Chronicle)

There are three female AME pastors in Clarksville. That is a lot for a small denomination among the many Christian denominations. It speaks well for the commitment of the AME church to the role of women in ministry and also leadership roles.

“Women are drawn to ministry because of the affirmation of women by the denomination,” Hammonds said. “I have always felt welcomed in the AME church and that sense of comfort and acceptance is present throughout our denomination. I think that has a lot to do with women, both black and white, wanting to serve as ministers and pastors in our denomination.”

Of the traditional African American denominations, the AME church has more female pastors than any and likely has more female pastors than some predominantly white congregations. The trend of increasing numbers of AME female pastors is extends nationwide.

That is not the trend in many denominations and then there are those denominations where women are prevented from having any active roles at all.

As Hammonds looks to the future at St. Peter, she wants the church to continue being the rock, the foundation, for its members and a resource and refuge for all. She wants it to be a place to seek solace where people can knock on the door and ask for help.

“I want it to be a place with answers,” said Hammonds.

There is a particular women’s ministry at the church that Hammonds believes will make the church always be a place with answers. It is an ecumenical group of women from various denominations who meet monthly and identify needs in the community and then develop a plan to address the needs.

If you want to know more about St. Peter AME Church, visit their Facebook page or send an e-mail to Rev. Hammonds at RevLisaF@yahoo.com.